United States Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Environmental Assessment Belle Ayr Mine Campbell County, Wyoming Mining Plan Modification for Federal Coal Lease WYW161248 June 2017 Prepared by: U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Program Support Division 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 Denver, CO 80202 PH: 303-293-5000 / FAX: 303-293-5032 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.1 Site History ........................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.2 Project Background............................................................................................................. 1-5 1.2.3 Statutory and Regulatory Background ............................................................................ 1-6 1.3 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................ 1-9 1.3.1 Purpose .................................................................................................................................. 1-9 1.3.2 Need ....................................................................................................................................... 1-9 1.4 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, and Other Agency Plans ......................................... 1-9 1.4.1 Statutes and Regulations .................................................................................................... 1-9 1.4.2 Other Agency Plans .......................................................................................................... 1-11 1.5 Authorizing Actions .................................................................................................................... 1-11 1.6 Outreach and Issues ................................................................................................................... 1-12 1.7 Crosswalk of Resource Areas .................................................................................................. 1-12 1.8 Public Involvement ...................................................................................................................... 1-12 2.0 Proposed Action & Alternatives ......................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Belle Ayr Mine WDEQ-LQD Permit ........................................................................................ 2-1 2.2 Project Area ................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Description of Existing Mining and Reclamation Operations .............................................. 2-1 2.3.1 Current Bonding and Bond Release Status ................................................................... 2-2 2.3.2 BAM Support Facilities ....................................................................................................... 2-4 2.3.3 Power Plants Supplied by the BAM ................................................................................. 2-4 2.4 Description of Alternatives ......................................................................................................... 2-4 2.4.1 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................. 2-5 2.4.2 No Action Alternative ........................................................................................................ 2-6 2.4.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated ........................................................................ 2-6 2.4.3.1 Underground Mining Alternative ................................................................................. 2-7 2.4.3.2 Air Quality Mitigation Alternatives .............................................................................. 2-8 2.4.3.3 Mining Plan with Reduced Disturbance Alternatives ............................................... 2-8 2.4.4 Project Environmental Protection and Mitigation Features ....................................... 2-9 Belle Ayr North Federal Mining Plan Modification EA for Permit No. PT0214 i TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT.) 2.4.4.1 Topography ....................................................................................................................... 2-9 2.4.4.2 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 2-9 2.4.4.3 Water Resources ............................................................................................................. 2-9 2.4.4.4 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................ 2-10 2.4.4.5 Terrestrial Wildlife ........................................................................................................ 2-10 2.4.4.6 Threatened and Endangered Species ......................................................................... 2-11 2.4.4.7 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................ 2-11 2.4.4.8 Visual Resources ............................................................................................................ 2-11 2.4.4.9 Soils ................................................................................................................................... 2-11 2.4.4.10 Post-mining Land Use ................................................................................................... 2-12 3.0 Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Air Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 National and Wyoming Ambient Air Quality Standards ............................................ 3-3 3.1.2 Attainment/Non-Attainment Area Designations ......................................................... 3-3 3.1.3 Background ........................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.1.4 Existing Belle Ayr Mine Air Quality Summary .............................................................. 3-6 3.1.4.1 Air Quality-Monitoring Values ...................................................................................... 3-6 3.1.4.2 Air Quality Related Values (AQRVs) ........................................................................ 3-12 3.1.4.3 Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)............................................................................... 3-12 3.1.4.4 Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and Climate Change .................................................. 3-14 3.2 Water Resources ........................................................................................................................ 3-15 3.2.1 Groundwater ...................................................................................................................... 3-15 3.2.2 Surface Water .................................................................................................................... 3-19 3.2.3 Water Rights ...................................................................................................................... 3-21 3.3 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................................... 3-23 3.3.1 Raptors ................................................................................................................................ 3-24 3.3.2 Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) ........................................................................................ 3-24 3.3.3 Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species, and Special Status Species ..... 3-26 3.3.3.1 Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species ................................................... 3-26 3.3.3.2 Vertebrate Sensitive Species ....................................................................................... 3-27 3.3.3.2.1 BLM Sensitive Species ............................................................................................ 3-27 3.3.3.2.2 USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern ........................................................... 3-30 Belle Ayr North Federal Mining Plan Modification EA for Permit No. PT0214 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT.) 3.4 Transportation ............................................................................................................................. 3-31 3.5 Socioeconomics ........................................................................................................................... 3-32 3.5.1 Local Economy ...................................................................................................................... 3-32 3.5.2 Population ........................................................................................................................... 3-32 3.5.3 Employment